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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDecember 2015by Emma TheisArden Hills is getting younger—in terms of population that is. An increasing number of younger families is moving to the suburb as baby-boomers transition into other living environments. According to Arden Hills Mayor David Grant, the City is attractive to young fami- lies for a host of reasons including home values, low crime, good employers, easy access to Minneapolis and St. Paul, and the Mounds View School District being ranked in the top ten districts in the state. As City demographics in Arden Hills are changing to an increasingly younger population, the desire for increased capabilities on the City’s website has also expanded. Many things that Arden Hills residents would have had to go to City Hall for in the past can now be completed conve- niently online—such as licensing cats or dogs, completing garage sale permits, on- street parking permits, and rental property registrations; paying utility bills; signing up and paying for parks and recreation ac- tivities, building permits and other miscel- laneous permits; and reporting concerns. The new features can be found online at cityofardenhills.org. In the upper right hand corner, a button called “I Want To... Help Center” will bring up a tab that as- sists visitors with navigating the website and achieving their goals. Whether you want to apply for, contact, dispose of, do- nate to, pay, register for, and more—your tasks can now be completed online. Additionally, paying property taxes and utility bills is now easier than ever with the online pay and recurring payments options. Setting up automatic payments ensures that City bills will be paid on-time and eliminates a task from endless to-do lists. (Currently, about 700 City residents are paying utility bills online.) Request Tracker The City also has implemented a new ser- vice called “Request Tracker” that records residents’ concerns and requests. Request Tracker will be a medium for Arden Hills citizens to report a concern online such as potholes, snow plowing and other issues. Whenever residents submit a request through the tracker, they will be assigned a ticket number, and every concern reported will be assigned to a City staff member. The Request Tracker is an improvement from the previous Report a Concern feature that did not track the status of the requests. There is more accountability with this new system, and the reporters have an opportunity to track the status of their issue or concern, ensuring that those requests will not fall through the cracks. “City Staff is aware of what is needed in the City, but we may not see everything,” said Mayor Grant. “Working together gives us thousands of eyes on what needs to be done. The tracker module provides an organized way to review what the final outcomes are and to analyze if there are any trends in what is being reported.” Even though Arden Hills has expanded its website to serve an increasing technologi- A younger community demands more online services cal population, the website is just one of many ways residents can communicate with the City. Other options include regu- lar mail, e-mail, telephone, and, of course, a personal visit to City Hall. Arden Hills City Hall is located at 1245 West Highway 96 and is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Email cityhall@cityofardenhills.org or call 651- 792-7800 to contact City Hall about any concerns. What tasks can I complete on the City website? Many things that Arden Hills residents would have had to go to City Hall for in the past can now be completed online: • licensing cats or dogs, • completing garage sale permits, • requesting on-street parking permits, • completing rental property registra- tion, • paying utility bills, • signing up and paying for parks and recreation activities, • applying for building permits, • securing other miscellaneous permits, • reporting concerns. Truth in Taxation Hearing: Monday, December 14, at 7 p.m. at City Hall A note about utility bills: The City cannot accept post-dated checks for utility billing payments, and post-dated checks will be re- turned to the sender. Thank you for your cooperation. The Official City Newsletter for Arden Hills Residents December 2015 Arden Hills Service Directory 1245 West Highway 96 Arden Hills, MN 55112-5734 Office Hours Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m.—4:30 p.m. 651-792-7800 www.cityofardenhills.org Sheriff and Fire 911 Water and Sewer Problems (During non-business hours) 651-767-0640 Mayor: David Grant 651-538-0747 dgrant@cityofardenhills.org Councilmembers: Brenda Holden 651-636-2987 bholden@cityofardenhills.org Fran Holmes 651-631-1866 fholmes@cityofardenhills.org Dave McClung 651-332-0352 davemcclung@comcast.net Acting City Administrator: Sue Iverson 651-792-7816 siverson@cityofardenhills.org Communications Committee Editors/writers: Susan Cathey, Tina Kulzer Writer: Emma Theis Council Liaison: David Grant Staff Liaison: Amy Dietl Desktop Publisher: Mary Nosek Council meetings are held at City Hall on the second and last Monday of the month at 7 p.m. Meetings are televised live on Cable Channel 16. Meetings of the Planning Commission are televised as well. Visit www.cityofardenhills.org for information about taped meeting playbacks. Arden Hills Notes is the official news- letter of the City of Arden Hills, an equal-opportunity employer. 2 City Park Profiles—a series Lindey’s Park by Tina Kulzer Snelling Avenue & County Road E Arden Hills is home to many exceptional parks, and everyone has their favorites. Criteria such as location and amenities often determine where residents will go to get outside and enjoy the natural surroundings throughout the City. The variety of recreational opportunities available at parks throughout Arden Hills is key to creating a park system that meets the needs of all residents. Lindey’s Park, on the southeast corner of Snelling Avenue and County Road E, contributes greatly to the comprehensive range of park and recreation choices available in Arden Hills. There was at one time a ball field and later a 9-hole bocce golf course here. Today, there are no traditional amenities at Lindey’s Park. Instead, this 1.5 acre parcel of natural landscape has found its niche in the park system as a minimally developed space that is an ideal spot to enjoy leisurely pursuits such as a picnic, flying a kite, playing catch or Frisbee, walking a dog, or resting on one of several available benches and observing the goings-on at one of the City’s main intersections. Not to be overlooked is the value of this well-kept green space for passersby. Lindey’s Park might not meet park usage criteria for all residents, yet it still serves all residents by providing an unobstructed view of landscaped open space that is pleasant and welcom- ing in all seasons. For generations, Arden Hills residents have indicated that simple green spaces such as this contribute greatly to quality of life here. Lindey’s Park is accessible by the Snelling Avenue service road entrance on Arden Place, just south of County Road E. Vehicle parking is available adjacent to the park in the graded shoulder area off the service road. The possibilities for play and relaxation are endless in the wide-open space of Lindey’s Park. Benchmarks: a review of recent City Council action 3 October 26, 2015 • Approved payment #1 to Hydro Klean, LLC in the amount of $64,165 for the 2015 Sanitary Sewer Lining project. The approval included change order number 1 in the amount of $1,485. (4-0) • Approved the fourth amendment to the Arden Plaza Planned Unit Development Agreement (PUD). This amendment was requested as part of the develop- ment agreement for construction of The Tavern Grill restaurant in Arden Plaza. (4-0) • Approved the Arden Hills third quarter financial statements. (4-0) • Approved the appointments of Josh Bloyer and Keri Bloyer to the Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee. (4-0) • Approved the appointment of Rich Straumann as Chair of the Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee. (4-0) • Approved resolution 2015-045, accept- ing the liability coverage limits from the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT) for 2016. (4-0) • Held a public hearing regarding a pos- sible franchise agreement with Cen- turyLink to provide cable TV service. Arden Hills is one of nine member cities of the North Suburban Cable Commis- sion (NSCC). CenturyLink is seeking a cable television franchise agreement for each member city of the NSCC. Cur- rently, Comcast has a non-exclusive franchise agreement with Arden Hills, which means the City Council may grant additional franchises to provide cable service. (The Council considered the ap- plication at its November 30 meeting.) November 9, 2015 • The November 9 City Council meeting was cancelled due to a lack of agenda items. On Tuesday, November 17, 2015, the City of Arden Hills was awarded the Leaders in Local Government Award by the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce for the City’s Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) Program. As a collaborative project be- tween the City’s Economic Development Authority (EDA), the Economic Develop- ment Commission (EDC), and the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce, the City has implemented a program to meet individu- ally with businesses to ascertain how the City can meet their needs and assist with job growth and business expansion. The City has specifically targeted businesses within high growth industries or which have been experiencing significant growth. The EDC and EDA will review the results of the BRE program in January 2016 and structure the City’s economic development work plan accordingly. With a population of 9,652 and an employ- ment of 12,188, Arden Hills is one of the few cities in the metropolitan area with more jobs than residents. Arden Hills is proud to be a vibrant center of business and employment and uses businesses’ contributions to the community. The BRE Program is designed to focus the City’s economic development on areas of greatest benefit to the business community. Pictured here are (l-r) Mayor David Grant, Community Development Director Jill Hutmacher, and Acting City Administrator Sue Iverson. City wins award for business retention and expansion program Did you know that an average family of four leaves more than two million calories, worth nearly $1,500, uneaten each year? Food loss and waste is the single largest component of disposed U.S. munic- ipal solid waste. (USDA 2015). Here are a few tips to help you reduce food waste: Know how long your food keeps: Don’t throw out your chicken breast prematurely. Add the USDA FoodKeeper app to your phone, or bookmark their website. Food- Keeper helps you understand food and bev- erages storage. It will help you maximize the freshness and quality of items, offering valuable storage advice about more than 400 food and beverage items. By doing so you will be able to keep items fresh longer. It is available as a mobile application for Android and Apple. Shop your refrigerator first! Cook or eat what you already have at home before buying more. Plan your menu before you go shopping and buy only those things on your menu. Buy what you realistically need and will use. Buying in bulk only saves money if you are able to use the food before it spoils. If safe and healthy, use the edible parts of food that you normally do not eat. For example, stale bread can be used to make croutons, beet tops can be sautèed for a delicious side dish, and vegetable scraps can be made into stock. -From Ramsey County Want to save the planet? Check your left-overs! 4 What is recycling?Recycling is the process of turning what could have been waste into a resource, whether it is a new water bottle, a fleece jacket or materials to build a new home. Recycling involves collecting recyclables like paper, card- board, glass, aluminum and plastic, then taking them to a recycling center where they are pro- cessed. These materials are sorted at the recycling center and purchased by manufacturers who use them to make new products. Republic’s Commitment to Recycling At Republic Services, we believe we are guardians of our environment and have a responsibility to regenerate our planet with the materials we are entrusted to handle every day by driving increased recycling, generating renewable en- ergy, and helping our customers in 300 locations across the country be more resourceful. Some of the meaningful ways people demonstrate environmental responsibil- ity include taking the time to separate recyclables from other waste, making the conscious decision to minimize the use of plastic shopping bags at the store, and conserving water at home. These have an indisputable environmental impact. But is it enough? Will these choices by themselves sustain our planet for future generations? We could each do more to reduce, reuse and recycle in daily life. The reality is people care about the envi- ronment and want to be environmentally responsible. Republic Services wants to assure our 14 million customers that recyclables are indeed recycled the right way. We relentlessly pursue innovation in our services, products, and capabilities, making it easy for customers to do more of the right thing with confidence. Reducing the carbon footprint Republic’s world-class recycling opera- tions at 66 recycling centers across the nation collected nearly 5 million tons of recyclable materials in 2013, enabling discarded items to be regenerated into newspaper, cardboard, glass and plastic bottles, tissue, paper towels, and metal cans. Recycling this quantity of material saves 15 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). We know that recycling results in a significant reduction in greenhouse gases compared to growing or mining those same commodities for use as virgin raw materials. Republic’s goal is to increase the ability to recycle by adding capacity each year to our recycling infrastructure. Through experience, we’ve learned that communities can only add or increase recycling when the infrastructure exists. We have specific goals for increasing recycling capability and reducing CO2e by 2018 and are on target to reach those goals. Republic recognizes the responsibility and opportunity we have in managing the nation’s waste stream to provide a source of renewable materials and energy to the economy. As recycling demand continues to grow, we will be there to meet the need with state-of-the-art equipment and some of the industry’s best talent. Recycling steps We encourage you to make recycling a part of your everyday routine. It’s a simple way to make a lasting difference in the local environment. Remember these easy conservation tips at home: • Try to keep plastic plates and bottles, glass bottles and aluminum cans as clean, empty and dry as possible. • Help conserve water by not letting the faucet run too long. • Be efficient and turn off the lights when you leave a room. • Shop smart and take reusable shopping bags with you to the store. • Purchase home and school supplies made from recycled materials. • Purchase items with little or no packag- ing. • Please remember not to litter. Help us keep the community clean and beautiful for future generations to come! Have questions? Contact Republic Ser- vices, cstwincities@republicservices.com or 952-941-5174. How about a green holiday? Did you know that household waste in the United States generally increases 25 percent between Thanksgiv- ing and New Year’s Day? According to the MPCA (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency), all the shop- ping bags, packaging, gift wrap, boxes, bows and ribbons add up to an additional one million tons of waste each week! With a little thought you can reduce, reuse, and recycle to give the environment a precious gift and save yourself time, money, and stress. Give no-waste gifts Our most cherished moments often involve family and friends. This year, give a gift of time or experience instead of stuff--offer to babysit, give music lessons, do household chores or run errands. Or try these ideas: • Make a “trash-to-treasure” gift from odds and ends • Give homemade baked goodies like cookies, preserves, or bread • Make a charitable donation in some- one else’s name • Give no-waste gifts, such as tickets to concerts, museums or sporting events, or give gift certificates Reduce waste during your celebrations • Bring reusable tote bags when you’re doing your holiday shopping • Use LED lights and put them on a timer • Decorate with natural materials like pine cones, evergreen boughs and gar- lands made of popcorn and berries • Get creative with gift wrapping, use baskets, glass jars or cookie tins and make your own gift tags • Use cloth napkins, silverware, glass or ceramic drinking cups and reusable plates at holiday parties. From Republic Services—notes about recycling from Ramsey Recycles When you’re making decisions about what organizations to support at year’s end, consider the Arden Hills Founda- tion. The Foundation is dedicated to improving life in Arden Hills for the people who live and work here. Learn more by contacting Foundation board member Andy Holewa at andy. holewa@comcast.net. 5 In the community--here are some things you should know This past spring, a “Going Green” guide was mailed to all homeowners courtesy of Ramsey County. The guide includes tips and contact information for recycling, dispos- al, or donating resources for a variety of household items. If you have misplaced your guide, you may access it online at ramseyrecycles.com or you may call 651- 633-EASY (3279), answered 24/7. It is a code violation (City Ordinance 602.02 Subd. 9) and a public nuisance to leave discarded items at the curb or the end of the driveway. If you notice gar- bage accumulating in your neighborhood, please report it to City staff at 651-792- 7800. Let’s keep our neighborhoods clean! The City does not have a bare street policy, as this requires tons of salt, around the clock plowing, and heavy traffic. Plows will get as close as possible to the mail- boxes, but the cleaning of the mailboxes is the responsibility of individual residents. It is also the responsibility of adjacent home- owners to clean snow from fire hydrants. The City plows the walks and trails to the best of its ability after all the streets are done. Some trails are not plowed if icing occurs due to them being too steep to plow. Parking when it’s been snowing: No vehicle can be parked on the street after the accumulation of two or more inches of snow and continuing until after snow plowing has been completed. Remember, there is no parking on any City street between 2 and 6 a.m. year round.When it snows The City’s Public Works Department plows snow after two or more inches of accumulation. Lesser amounts are only salted/sanded as needed. Plows will not go out until after the snow has stopped, unless the snow becomes too heavy. In that case, roads will be opened, then cleaned up after snow has stopped. Cold weather can be especially difficult for vacant houses where damage from frozen pipes and storm damage can go unnoticed. If you know of a vacant house in your neighborhood, please contact City Hall. It is City policy to shut off water to homes that are vacant. Prevent damage to vacant property Here’s a chance to volunteer Considering a donation? Citizen volunteers are sought to serve on the Planning Commission; Commu- nications Committee; Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee; and the Economic Development Commission. More information about the commissions and the committees, as well as an applica- tion form can be found on the City website (click on “Committees & Commissions” under the “Government” tab). Interested residents also can call or stop by City Hall. from Ramsey Recycles Got junk? Arden Hills skating rinks are scheduled to be open from December 7, 2015 - February 15, 2016. Dates are subject to change depending on weather conditions. Rinks will be closed if the temperature is -20 degrees Fahrenheit, and/or the wind chill is -20 degrees Fahrenheit. Warming house hours for Freeway, Hazelnut, and Perry Park are: Monday – Friday: 4:30 - 8:30 p.m. Saturday – 12:00 - 8:30 p.m. Sunday – 1:00 - 7:00 p.m. New this year: Cummings Park will have a push-light system available during the week for open skating. Lights will auto- matically turn off at 10:00 p.m. The warming house will not be open during this time. A warming house attendant will be on duty Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only. Vacation and holiday hours for the warming houses are: Dec. 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 – 12:00 - 8:30 p.m. Christmas Eve – noon- 5:00 p.m. Christmas Day – CLOSED New Year’s Eve – noon- 5:00 p.m. New Year’s Day – noon - 8:30 p.m. Martin Luther King Day (Jan. 18) – noon- 8:30 p.m. President’s Day (Feb. 15) – noon- 8:30 p.m. Call Aaron Thelen at 651-792-7848 with questions. Skating rink hours for this season Postal Customer ECR-WSS PRST STD U.S. Postage Paid St. Paul, MN Permit #1962 I n s i d e Arden Hills, MN . 55112-5734 City services online Lindey’s Park Recycling basics Helping your community News from the Mayor Live from Arden Hills, it’s Satur- day Night . . . The actual line is of course “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night.” Saturday Night Live is so iconic that all one needs to do is abbreviate the name, “SNL” and every- one knows what you are talking about. These opening words reminded me that it was time for me to do a ride along with the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Depart- ment (RCSD) and what better time than Saturday night to see if things are lively. I did a 4 p.m. to midnight shift and learned a number of things that I would like to share. The amount of technology in law enforce- ment continues to increase. Dispatch can locate 911 cell phone calls even if the cell phone location feature is turned off. Squads have both on-screen and verbal di- rections to call outs. The verbal directions are much more detailed and specific than standard cell phone applications. Squads can see, via a real time map, where other squads are located for backup. It is amaz- ing how fast a squad can respond to a call and how fast a backup unit can arrive. Ef- ficient dispatch and car-to-car coordination enables a swift and appropriate response level. There are several reasons why I do ride alongs. It gives me a chance to tell the RCSD what is going on in the City from a City perspective. And more importantly, it gives them an opportunity to tell me what is going on from a policing perspec- tive. Over the course of the night I rode with two different officers and I am truly amazed by the level of knowledge the of- ficers have about our neighborhoods and businesses. Officers know when business open and close, what security systems they have, and in many cases, know the names of private security guards on duty. Work- ing together, they keep things secure. In the daylight hours, I was impressed by the amount of people who wave as the squad goes down the street. I learned that this is much more common in cities located in the north and west part of Ramsey County and drops off as you go south. The officers appreciate the waving. It is a nice way to say thank you for being here. Over the course of the night, there was only one call inside Arden Hills and it was for a medical situation. So it was not something illegal but certainly important. Lake Johanna Fire Department and Allina also responded. The Sheriff’s Department was first on the scene. After arriving and making a quick trip to the trunk to grab first responder gear, we made our way to the site. The amount of first responder gear they carry is truly impressive. If the RCSD is first on the scene, it has what is needed. There were numerous calls for other cities in which the Arden Hills car was a backup squad. It was an interesting perspective to go “lights on” and head out of the City, with cars in front of us peeling back to the curb. It is certainly an unnatural feeling to go through red lights. So things were really quiet in Arden Hills, at least that Saturday night. Next time the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department is in your neighborhood, give them a wave. Regards, David Grant Happy Holidays! City Hall will be closed on December 24 and 25 & December 31 and January 1 Learn about City events, recreation opportunities, and more: City of Arden Hills, MN —-Local Government twitter.com/ardenhillscity